Aeroplane construction



H. G. HOOPER.

AEROPLANE CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13, 1918.

1, 35 1,852. Patented Sept. 7, 1920.

o o c O D m l 21705 Z Za r7215. 65 f/ao aez c UNITED .STATES PATENTOFFICE.

HARRIS G. noorEa-or SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

AEROPLANE CONSTRUCTION.

Original application filed August 28, 1917, Serial No. 188,623. Dividedand this application filed September Specification of Letters Patent.

13, 1918. Serial No. 253,875.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, HARRIS GcHooPER, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and StateofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in AeroplaneConstruction, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines or heavier-than-airaeronautical vehicles, and more particularly to improvements inaeroplane construction, the primary object being the provision ofimprovements in aeroplaneconstruction which will be superior in point ofrelative simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction andorganization, taken in connection with, or considered in the light ofsuperiority as to durability, combustibility, structural rigidity,stress resistance, length of life, lightness and compactness in form andfacility of assemblage and security of inter-connection and associationand inter-relation of parts and features, in addition to generalefficiency and serviceability.

This invention is a division of my pending application for patent forflyingmachines filed by me. August 28, 1917, Ser. No. 188,623. V

A further and more specific object is to provide an effective, strongand durable means of connection between the wing or sustalning surfaces'of an aeroplane, the par- 7 ticular means ofconnection beingconstructed, assoclated and lnter-related wlth the sus- Y tainingsurfaces in a novel and reliable manner, and being adapted forassociation with metallic plane or sustaining surfaces and primarilydesigned for use in. connection with such surfaces. 1

Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel and useful provision, formation, construction, combination,association and inter-relation and mode of assemblage in connectionofparts, members and features, all as disclosed in the accompanyingdrawing, described in the following specification and finally defined inthe claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a detail fragmentary view illustrating the manner ofconnecting a strut with the wing or sustaining surfaces showing partsin'section'and one of the sustaining surfaces as being formed of metalsheets;

7 Referring particularly to the drawing, A

designates a fragment of the surface covering of one of the planes of an"aeroplane,

said plane being formed of sheet-metal, and

B designates a hollow preferably sheet-metal strut. This strut ispreferably formed of a single sheet of metal developed into propercontours to provide a minimum effective head resistance, the verticaledges 7) of said sheet being brought together at the rear face of thestructure and formed into a suitable lap joint. Other formationsresulting in the strut construction may be utilized if so desired, theessential requirement being that the strut be preferably formed of metaland of hollow construction.

The plane surface A is modified in its formation to accommodate andsupport a seat or step 1 for the strut B, said seat or step beingpreferably of an inverted V-shape. The'plane A is transversely folded asat 2, said folded portions being spaced from one another so asto receivethe transversely bent up edges 3 of the seat or step 1. This seat orstep 1 is of angular formation as be fore stated and standssubstantially upright on plane A, and may extend as far as desiredtransversely of the plane A. The strut B is split or expanded at itslower end as at a, to fit over such seat or step 1 and 4 the lower edgesof the strut are bent up as at 5, and returned into the folded formation2 of the plane A, in association with the bent-up edges 3 of the seat 1.The interfitting and inter-association of the bent-over or foldedportions of the seat 1, plane A and strut B provide a rigid, secure andreliable connection between the strut and plane surface. T 0 completethe sustaining or plane surface at the open base of the angularly formedseat 1 a transverse closure and reinforcing section 6 of sheet metal, isfitted in place beneath said seat and provided with bent-up extremitiesor edges 7 which are received between the bent-up portions 2 and 3 v ofthe plane A and lower edges of the strut B respectively. The plane A andstrut B together with the sheet 6 and seat linbeing thus inter-folded orinter-associated provide a reliable and secure connection thereof, andit will be observed that I may in this mannerassemble an aeroplaneconsisting of me tallic planes or sustaining surfaces and metallicstruts, theesscntial features of the particular construction andrelative arrangement' of particulz-irly constructed parts of the 1 strutand planes being rigidity of connection taken 'in considerationwith'ease of assembla e'and the Stl'GSS-lGSlStllU uahties 1'0- vided bythe particular construction and inter-relation of the elements of theconstructionso employed. .An aeroplane or like aeronautical vehicle inwhich the spaced sustaining or plane surfaces are joined by struts inthe manner hereinbefore described and illustratedin the accompanymgdrawmg will possess permanent rigidity and strength and not be subjectto derangement incident to the stresses and strains to which such partsare subjected in ordinary usage.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the strut B is illustratedas rigidly connected with 'a body C or other structural member of anaeroplane or like aeronautical vehicle, means D being provided forsecuring or fastoning the strut to the body member This means D consistspreferably and essentially of a metal'clamp S which is of arcuateformation so as to conform to and snugly engage the strut'B. The clamp 8is provided with extens ons or ears 9 wlnchhave open- 7 lugs 10 formedth'erethrough for the reception of bolts or other fastening elements 11,

"such elements being inserted through the member C and preferablysecured in place by nuts 12. As a means for lockingthe j clamp 8 uponthe strut B there is provided a rib 13 extending transversely of theclamp and having engagement in a complementary groove 14, the latterbeing formed in. the strut Bi The rib 13 is preferably formed bystriking the metal of the clamp 8 inwardly along a given linetransversely or horizontally of the clamp and the clamp in thisinter-fitting or inter-locking with the strut providesfor a maximumsecurity and rigidity of connection between the-strut B and member 0 andin this way an aeroplane or like structure will have maximum ridigityand strength and is capable of withstanding severe strain and stresseswithout derangement of the construction thereof and result- I antloosening of elements of the construction. lVith reference to theforegoing description and accompanying drawing, it will be seen that lhave provided means of connection for the spaced sustaining surfaces,

wings or planes of an aeroplane or like aeronautical vehicle includingmeans for connectingsuch means with the aeroplane body structure, bothsaid means being specially designed and constructed and adapted for usein connection with metallic plane surfaces and metallic struts, theessential features of improvement therein being the particularinter-relation, construction and association of the parts providing forthe connection of the struts and plane surfaces, and struts with thebody construction of anaeroplane or like aeronautical vehicle.

Having thus disclosed my i vention, 1 claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1 In improvements ofthe character dis- "closed, means forproducing sustentation of said strut, comprising an arched plate joinedat its edges with said wall by a lap joint; said strut being tubular andsplit to straddle said plate.

3. In improvements of the character disclosed, means for producingsustentation of atmospheric reaction comprising spaced upper and lowerwalls, a strut connected with one of said walls, and means forconnecting said strut, comprising an arched: plate; said strut beingtubular and split to straddle said plate. V

4. The combination, with a tubular metallic strut and. a metallicaeroplane plane sustaining'surfa'ce, of means forconnecting said strutand said surface, including an angular step member'extending into saidstrut and connected with said strut and the surface by a lap joint, saidlap oint including a folded portion of said surface;

5. The combination, with a tubular metal lic strut anda metallicaeroplane sustaining surface, of means for connecting said strut andsaid surface, including an angular step member extending into said strutand connected with said strut and the surface by a lap joint, said lapjoint'including a folded portion of'saidsurface, and a separate metallicsheet bridging the space beneath said step member and strut, and beingdisposed in the planeof said sustaining surface.

6. The combination, with a tubular metallic strut and "ametallicaeroplane sustaining surface, of means for connecting said strut andsaid surface, including an angular step member extending into sald strutand connected with said strut and the surface by a lap joint, and aseparatemetallic sheet bridgmg the space beneath said step member andstrut and being disposed in the plane of said sustaining surface; theedges of said last named member being folded and incorporated with thelap oint.

7. In improvements of the character disclosed, a metallic sustaining orplane surface, a hollow metallic strut, and means for c0nnecting saidstrut with the plane surface, including a seat member secured to saidplane surface and being received within said ho1- low strut which issplit to straddle the same.

8. 1n improvements of the character disclosed, a strut formed of sheetmaterial and bent so that the upright edges of same are joined together,a portion of one end of said strut being split whereby divergent leaves15 are provided and a plane surface to which said divergent leaves areconnected.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing v witnesses.

HARRIS G. HOOPER.

WVitnesses:

RAYMOND Ivns BLAKESLEE, l/VILLIS S. MITCHELL.

